Tobacco-tier.



A.1. COLLINS.

TOBACCO TIER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. |911.

WITNESSES @Mg 777.

ATTORNEY A. J. COLLINS.

Y ToBAcco TIER.

APPLICATION FILED F.B |911. 1,262,455, v Patented Apr. 9, l91&

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- 22g@ .ZJ .f Ma' f' Awe@ Ic/0am? Wnwo entre sra ALFREDJ. COLLINS,Y or WINTEnvILLE, NORTH CAROLINA.V

TOBACCO-TIER.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 9, 1918..

Application filed February 7, 1917. Serial N o. 147,219.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ALFRED J. COLLINS, a citizen of the United' States,residing at Winterville, in the county of Pitt and State of NorthCarolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tobacco-Tiers, of which the following is a specifica# tion.

My invention relates to improvements in tobacco shock tiers, and itconsists in the constructions, combinations and arrangee ments hereindescribed and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a device for looping or tyingbundles of green tobacco into shocks, so that a great proportion ofmanual labor may be dispensed with and the tobacco handled and storedmore readily.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tobacco shock tierincluding principally a. reciprocable carriage for receiving A a bundleof green tobacco, and a looping or tying device which acts on the bundleor shock of tobacco, as the carriage reciprocates.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following specicationreference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof,in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device illustrating its application,

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof,

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation,

Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal section of a portion of the deviceshowing the reciprocable carriage connections,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which a shock istied, and

Fig. 6 is a detail cross section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

It is the practice in tobacco -growing regions to cut the green tobaccoon the field and convey it to a curing-house where it remains for aspecified time in order to be dried and cured. The curing-house isusually a large barn. In cutting the tobacco, the operatives gather thegreen leaves into bundles and tie them as such.

This bundling of the green leaves is known as looping, and being done byhand takes a considerable length of time.

In carrying out my invention I provide a table l which is supported atthe four corners by legs 2. Suitable braces 3 are pro vided beneath thetable, which as shown in Vtreadle also hereinafter to be referred to.

Tracks 7 are secured to the table l as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2,on which a tobacco bundle carriage 8 is arranged to run. The carriage 8is provided with flanged or grooved wheels 9 which run on the tracks 7.The carriage 8 is provided at its forward and rearward ends withstandards 10 the upper ends of which receive a bar 11. The bundle ofgreen tobacco is set over the bar 11 and on to the carriage 8.

The carriage 8 is reciprocated over the tracks 7 by the action of atreadle 12. The treadle 12 includes a cross-bar 13 the ends of whichvare formed into trunnions 14. The trunnions 14 rest in suitable bearingsinthe lower bars 5, and are-held to the bearings by cap plates as shownin Figs. 1 and 3. The treadle 12 is rocked on the trunnions 14 by alever 15. The lever 15 is fulcrumed on a superstructure 16 which issecured to the table 1 as illustrated in the drawings. Thesuperstructure 16 also forms the supporting means for other elements ofthe device which will be presently described. The lever 15 is providedwith a' hand grip 15L which may be grasped by the operator in operatingthe device. rlhe other endof the lever 15`is joined with the treadle 12by a link rod 17. In moving the lever 15 on its fulcrum by reason ofgrasping thehand grip 15a, the treadle 12 is accordingly rocked on itstrunnions 14.

The movements of the treadle12 are utilized for reciprocating thecarriage 8 along the tracks 7. For this purpose a drum 18 of the cablewinding mechanism previously referred to is employed. The drum 18rotatably mounted on a shaft 19 which 1sv Xed in the parallel beams 6.'A cable 20 is wound on the drum 18, one end 20a thereof passing upwardlyover a sheave 21 which is mounted on the table 1 as shown in Fig. 4, andis secured to the Vrear end of the carrage 8 as shown Fig. 4. The otherend 20b of the cable 20 passes upwardly over a similar sheave 21 and issecured to the forward end of the carriage 8.

Ratehets 22 and 23 aresecured to the ends of the drum 18. Pawls 24 and25 engage the teeth of the respective ratchets 22 and 23, the pawlsbeing loosely mounted on the treadle 12 at either side of the treadlefulcrum 14.

The pawls 24 and 25 may be simultaneously-moved from engagement with therespective ratchets, by a disengaging bar 26 which is provided with acrank extension 27. When it is desired to disengage the pawls 24 and 25from the ratchets 22 and 23, the crank 27 may be struck by the foot ofthe operator who is assumed to be standing adjacent to the lever 15,when the pawls will be disengaged simultaneously for a purpose whichwill presently be made clear.

Reference -is now directed to Fig. G from which it will be observed thatthe drum 18 is divided with an annular chamber 28 in the plane of theratchet 23. rThe chamber 28 houses a. coiled spring 29 which is securedat one end to the xed shaft 19 and at the other end, to the wall of thechamber 28 of the drum 18 as at 30. As the treadle 12 is rocked on itsfulcrums 14, one or the other of the pawls 24 and 25 will be moved.downwardly and cause the rotation of the drum 18 through the medium ofthe associated ratchet. Assuming the motion of the treadle to be such asto rotate the drum 18 in a counter-clockwise direction in Fig. 4, thecable end 20a will be wound on the drum 18 and cause the carriage 8 tomove forwardly. rlhe end 20b of the cable 20 isv correspondingly letout. As the drum 18 is rotated in the counter-.clockwise direction, thespring 29 will be partially wound by reason of its connection 30 withthe drum. The stored tension in the spring 29 will serve to rotate thedrum 18 in a clockwise direction and consequently return the carriage 8by winding up the end 20b of the cable 20. The foregoing description isan explanation of the manner vin which the carriage 8 is reciproeated.along the tracks 7.

A bundle of tobacco leaves are set onto the carriage 8 when it is in theposition shown in Fig. 1, whereupon the carriage 8 is vmoved forwardlyto the dot-and-dash-line position, in which time thebundle is looped.rlhe tobacco bundle is looped by cords or twine a and b. The twine a andb isrcontained in twine boxes 31 and 32. rlhe twine boxes 31 and 32 aremounted near the ends of a 'box mount 33 which ,is mounted on the end ofa dri-ven spindle 34. The spindle `34 is journaled in suitable bearingson the superstructure 16 as clearly shown in the drawings. The spindle34 is provided with a driven ,gear 36. The gear 36 is rotated by ,anzirrterlfrl'leshiglg .driven gear V36 on 31 and 32.

shaft 35a. The shaft 35EL is journaled onk the superstructure 16 andcarries the sprocket 35. rlwisting arms 37 are mounted on the box mount33 adjacent to the twine boxes rlhe arms 37 are formed with loops 37ELthrough which the twine a and b is threaded. The twine is contained inthe boxes 31 and 32 from which it is threaded through suitable holes inthe covers of the boxes. Tension screws 38 may be provided by which thetension` of the twine is adjusted so that it may not unwind from vthetwine pawls too rapidly.

rlhe spindle shaft v34, and consequently its .carried parts, is revolvedbya chain 39 which is applied to the sprocket 35, The ends of theV chain39 V are secured vto the treadlc 12 at either side of the pivotal point14, a guide or tightening roller 40 being` provided for the cha-inA asshown in Fig. 3,. 'i As the treadle 12 moves, the spindle 34 willaccordingly be rotated vin its journals, and the twine a and Z) twistedlfirst in one direction and then in the other. The twisting of the twinein the two directions referred to is accomplished by the action of thetreadle 12, it being readily understood that the treadle rocks'downwardly first on one side lof its fulerum and then on `the other,these movements being imparted to the .spindle 34 as will hereinafter bemore fully explained.

From the foregoing .description the construction of the device will bereadily understood, and the operation thereof is ras follows:

lt should be explained that the .thread twisting arms 37 are normallydisposed in a horizontal plane as indicated by the ,dote and-dash-linesin `Fig. 1, yand n Ot in Athe vertical plane shown in full lines. Thearms 37 are shown in the full line :position simply for purposes ofillustration. A bundle of green tobacco leaves are set down between thearms 37 (assuming them ,to bein a hori- Zontal position) when ,they willbe embraced by the arms and will rest on the carriage 8.

, The twine ends a' and are assumed to have been twisted ytogether as atm inrFig. 5 from a previous operation. The I natureof the twine will besuch that when it is twisted together kit will remain so. For this purpose it may be covered with resin or some other binding material whichwill insure the retention .of the twist a; during what little handlingthe shoclr will receive.

The bundle of leaves being now in position, the lever 15 is grasped at152L `and pulled outwardly. The treadle l2 is consequently rocked on itsfulcrum and l:the .cable end .20a woundon vthe drum 18 in the inanneralready explained. rl`he result will .be that the ycarriage 8 .is movedforwardly carrying the bundle of tobacco leaves .withitu l/gVhen Ithishashappened the spindle 34 will be rotated ,and .the twin@ @and .ttwisted ,at

the other side of the bundle of leaves as at g/ in Fig. 5. The twistv yis now formed and is cut at the end vthereof adjacent to the untwistedtwine ends aV and b. The lcoped shock is now removed from the carriage 8and the now severed ends of the twine a, Z9, may be held together. TheVoperator may now strike the crank 27 with his foot to cause thedisengagement of the pawls 24: and

25 with the respective ratchets. The tension of the spring 29 will thuscause the rotation of the drum 18 in a clockwise direction, rewindingthe cable end E20b on the drum 18, and returning the carriage 8 to itsformer position.

At the same time that the pawls are released from the ratchets and thecarriage 8 is returning to its normal position, the operator will shovethe lever 15 inwardly (it being recalled that the lever 15 was pulledoutwardly) when the chain 39 and the cooperating parts will cause thespindle 311 to rotate in an opposite direction to which it was rotatedwhen the carriage 8 was moved -forwardly. The result will be that thetwine ends a, b will be twisted in an opposite direction while the endsare being held as previously explained, by the operator.

When the foregoing operations are accomplished, the carriage 8 will havebeen returned to its former position, a twist will have been formed atthe ends of the twines a, ZJ and the device will be in readiness toreceive another bundle of tobacco leaves. It will be understood that assoon as the carriage 8 is returned to its normal position by reason ofthe uncoiling of the spring 29, the operator will release the crank 27which will permit the pawls to rengage the respective ratchets. Theprovision of the two ratchet mechanisms is simply for the purpose ofpermitting the operator to swing the lever 15 inwardly or outwardly ashe may choose or as present conditions may demand.

1 claim:

l. A bundle tying device, a table, a bundle carriage movable thereoverand adapted to receive a bundle, and means for looping a twine aroundthe bundle as the carriage moves in one direction.

2. A bundle tying device, a table, a carriage adapted to receive abundle, means for moving the carriage forwardly over the table, meansfor looping and twisting` twine around the bundle as the carriage movesforwardly, and means for returning the carriage.

3. In a bundle tying device, a table, a carriage adapted to receive abundle, a drum, a cable wound on the drum and having its ends attachedto the carriage, means for rotating the drum to move the carriageforwardly, and means for returning the carriage.

4L. A bundle tying device, a table, a ear riage movable over the tableadapted to receive a bundle, a cable drum, a cable wound on the drum andhaving its ends secured to the ends of the carriage, a treadle havingconnections for rotating the drum to wind the cable and move thecarriage forwardly, and

means for disconnecting said connections from the drum to permit thereturn of the carriage.

5. A bundle tying device, a table, ya carriage movable thereover adaptedto receive a bundle, a shaft, a cable drum rotatable on the shaft, aspring coiled about the shaft and having its respective ends secured tothe shaft and the drum, a ratchet on the drum, a cable wound on the drumand having its ends secured to the ends of the carriage, a treadle, apawl on the treadle for engaging the drum ratchet and rotating the drumupon movement of the treadle, and a disconncctor for the pawl to permitthe return of the carriage.

G. A bundle tying device, a table, a carriage adapted to receive abundle movable ther-cover, a shaft, a drum having a ratchet mounted onthe shaft, a spring having its respective ends connected to the shaftand the drum, a cable on the drum having its ends connected to the endsof the carriage, a treadle having a pawl in engagement with the ratchetto rotate the drum in one direction, wind the cable and store tension inthe spring, a lever'for operating the lever, and a disconnector for thepawl to permit the rotation of the drum in an opposite direction by thetension of the spring.

7 In a bundle tying device, the combination with a reciprocable carriageadapted to receive a bundle, cable and drum devices for reciprocatingthe carriage, lever and treadle devices for actuating the drum, andassociated twine looping and twisting arms for looping and twistingtwine around the bundle as the carriage reciprocates.

S. In a bundle tying device, the combination with the table andsuperstructure, a reciprocable carriage movable over the table andadapted to receive a bundle, a spindle mounted on the superstructure,twine guides for guiding the twine and embracing a bundle, and means formoving the carriage with a bundle over the table to loop the twinearound the bundle and twist the ends.

9. 1n a bundle tying` device, the combination with the superstructure, arotatable spindle having arms adapted to embrace a bundle, the armshaving loops to receive and guide the twine, and tension screws forengaging the twine.

10. 1n a bundle tying device, a table and a superstructure, a carriagemovable over the table and adapted to receive a bundle, a spindlejournaled on the superstructure and disposed over the carriage, guidearms carried by the spindle, the guide arms being adapted Vto embracethe bundle on the carriage, drum and cable devices for moving thecarriage and bundle forwardly to loop the twine around the bundle,treadle and lever devices for rotating the drum and twistingl thethreads, means for dsengaging the treadle `devices from the drum, andmeans for returning the carriage.

1l. n a bundle tying device, the combination of a slidable carriage,said carriage being adapted to receive a bundle, and means for looping atwine around the bundle as the carriage is slid in one direction.

19. ln a bundle tying device, the combination of a slidable carriage,adapted to `receive a bundle, means for moving said carriage forwardly,means for looping and twisting twine around the bundle as the carriagemoves forwardly, and means for returning the carriage.

ln testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED J. COLLINS.

Vitnesses B. F. MANNING, L. C. FLETCHER.

Copies of thiepatent may be ,obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Eatents,

Washington, D. C.

